Plan To Set Up Waste-to-energy Plant In Capital Awaits Official Nod

The plan to set up a waste-to-energy plant to use the federal capital's per day garbage of about 500 to 600 tonnes for generating electricity, refused-derived fuel (RDF) and compost, awaits official nod

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2019 ) :The plan to set up a waste-to-energy plant to use the Federal capital's per day garbage of about 500 to 600 tonnes for generating electricity, refused-derived fuel (RDF) and compost, awaits official nod.

The issue of solid waste management has become a daunting task for the capital's municipal authorities.

The Sanitation Directorate of Capital Development Authority (CDA) had once undertaken a project to produce refused-derived fuel from the municipal solid waste (MSW). Since the RDF made from the municipal waste cost merely Rs 1 per kilogramme (kg), so it could be a viable alternative for timber and natural gas utilized by the catering industry, restaurants and households in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

The waste-to-energy project not only comprises RDF production, but also generation of electricity and compost.

According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) statistics, "In 2016, one ton (2,000 pounds) of MSW burned in waste-to-energy plants in the United States generated about 474 kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity, or about the amount of electricity used by 16 US households in one day. In a waste-to-energy plant, 2,000 Pounds of garbage is reduced to 300 pounds 600 pounds of ash." Talking to APP, CDA officials said around 100 acres land had been acquired from the Forest Department of Punjab near Sangjani for setting up a proper landfill site to end this lingering issue of garbage disposal.

He said the RDF experience was amazing as its efficacy was tested at Bari Imam Shrine where food caterers used it and easily cooked a cauldrons of meal in less time as compared to wood.

"One kg RDF is sufficient for household needs. It will help replace huge expenses of natural gas consumption if implemented," he insisted.

The CDA, he said, had been advocating the need for implementing the eco-friendly and economical project, and hoped for its incorporation in the Sangjani landfill project.

He, however, said the top priority of the civic authority was solid waste management. The waste-to-energy project would be taken under consideration after the accomplishment of successful waste management, he added.

The RDF generation is a comprehensive scientific process which involves segregation of waste through different processing steps ranging from screening, air classification, ballistic separation, separation of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, glass and stones.

It largely comprises waste combustible components of such waste, as non-recyclable plastics (not including PVC), paper cardboard, labels, and other corrugated materials which could be used as fuel in a cement kiln hence replacing conventional fossil fuels such as coal.

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